Cigarette lighters prohibited on airplanes beginning February 15

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration, along with the Department of Homeland Security, has announced that beginning Tuesday, February 15, cigarette lighters will be confiscated at all U.S. airline security checkpoints.

However, you will still be allowed to pack a lighter in your checked baggage.

No rules - as yet - have been promulgated prohibiting the carrying of matches on board.

I'm somewhat surprised lighters have ever been permitted as checked baggage, much less remain so: after all, they contain flammable liquid, which is among the prohibited items noted in the litany at the post office.

But wait - there's more.

Several weeks ago, the Homeland Security Department and the FBI released an advisory note warning airport security officials about not only cigarette lighters, but also altimeters and wristwatches.

MSNBC stated that terrorist organizations are using Casio brand wristwatches with an altimeter function to construct explosive devices.

The advisory noted that the Casio brand is preferred because it is cheap and widely available around the world.

How much longer, do you think, before wristwatches are prohibited on airplanes?

Just one more thing to leave at home, along with your Swiss army knife, knitting needles, and the like.

It could be worse: just in, the news that smoking in all San Francisco public parks is now prohibited.

It's coming from both sides these days, isn't it?

The right, the left, everybody's got a reason to pass a law to limit one more thing.

Nibble, nibble, nibble.

Pretty soon, the cheese is all gone.